Save Quiggins!

• 6th Jan 2004

Quiggins Centre opened in 1988 in School Lane and soon became known for small local music, arts, crafts, antiques and fashion businesses. The centre is a lucky dip mini city. It offers something which its neighbouring shopping centres will never be able to create. Its interior isn’t the manufactured neat Ikea copy cat walls and furnishings. It’s a cocktail of bright uncoordinated colours and chipped walls displaying distinct clothes, gifts and styles for anyone who walks on its floorboards.

Despite Quiggins contribution to Liverpool culturally, September 2002 saw the City Councils planning committee agree to go ahead with the redevelopment of the Paradise Street areas, spelling the end for Quiggins owners and traders in School Lane and threatening Liverpool’s favourite treasure trove for gifts and clothes with closure.

Quiggins owners and traders are currently pushing forward their campaign against the redevelopment of Liverpool’s home for alternative gifts and bargain buys. The campaign is now nearing its climax following a public enquiry on the 4th, 5th and 6th November, the future of the centre is expected to be know around March / April 2004.

Meanwhile there is still much work to be done. A Quiggins Benefit Gig is due to take place on Friday 16th January at the Carling Academy on Hotham Street. At the event money will be collected for Quiggins to go towards the production of flyers and other such materials in aid of their campaign.

Four bands will take to the stage on the night. Firstly, there is the Hot Carls, who exploded onto the local scene early last year. The Hot Carls play a diverse mix of music styles ranging from punk to blues and have receive much critical acclaim from the local music press. Secondly, there is Three Minute Margin, a Liverpool based punk band who have been performing together since 2000. They have been variously described as being like Shellac, Fugazi, King Crimson, Rites of Spring and Blue Oyster Cult. Three piece Liverpool Psychobilly outfit Blue Demon will also be performing on the night as well as Tokyo Adventures, a well established band self described as ‘pop with distorted guitars (kind of like together in electric dreams by Phil Oakley)’ Their musical influences range from 80’s pop to American metal.

All moneys raised at the event will go to Quiggins to help their cause. Attendance at the event will not only help the centre it will also help support the local music scene, arguably these are two worthy causes!

16th January @ The Carling Academy
£3 entry plus £1 donation to Quiggins
Doors 7pm